The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-03-12
Abterille Meridloual.
Theprniries Of Lon1s;ann.

The prairies ot Louisiana differ
from those of the Northwestern
States. At the moment you start
westward the landscape sa'utes you
in all the ovelincss of a blossomiCg
prairie in its first luz uriunce of green
under the tender sun. The flowers
are numbcrless. These prairie lands
occupy about one.eight of the area
OF the State, and lie principally south
of Red River, and west of the At.
,chafalaya, in the parishes of Kapides,
Avoycllrs. ST. Landry, Acadia, St.
Mar,in, Lafayette, St. Mary, Ferm-
lion and Calcasieu. The vast prairies
of Attakapas and Opelousas lie in
this region. The prairies are uni
formly level, or slightly %undulating,
and usually elevated and dry. They
are we'll watered and drained by
fine streams which course through
and permeates them in every direc-
ton, and furnish convenient naviga-
ton to nearly every part. A great
variety Of indigenous grasses grow
upon these prairies and furnish q
perennial pasture to unnumbered
herds of cattle. On these prairies
in southwest Louisiana, were recent
]y located the largest ~vacharies in
the United States, for the rich and
~succulent grasses maintained in per-
petual verdue, furnish as fine graz.
ing as is to be found in the world.
Single vacharies were accustomed
to brand over five thousand calves
every year previous to the war.
The beef. fresh from these green
prairies, is much priced for its rich
flavor and juicy tenderness, and for
the delicate manner in which it is in.
terlarded. Tie mutton Of these
pralries is fammous for its superior
excellence, ,and is pronounced by all
who have opportunities of compari.
son as fully equal If not superior to
the hest British mutton.
This whole region is equal, if not
superior, to any prairie land in the
United States in point Of fertility.
Instances can be cited where such
lands upon the Teche have been in
cultivation for over eighty years
without manure, and without even
.,jadicious rotation ; and yet in 1861,
produced over two thousand FIVE
hundred pounds Of sugar to the
acre. They are equally adapted
to cane or cotton; and wherever
wheat, rye and barley have been
tried the yield was far superior to
that Of the famous prairies of Hi
nois, while they are well known
for their fruits, such as oranges,
grapes, peaches, pears, figs and ban.
anas. 1t is blessed With ex,raordi.
nary salubrity and mildness Of eli.
mate, and opens to the Northern
emigrant the finest field in the South
for the successful use of labor saving
machines. Sufficient timber is found
along the margins Of the streams
for building, fencing and fnel, while
the pride Of China grows With such
exuberancc that in a few years it
furnishes, when planted in sufficient
quantity, an ample supply of wood
right at ones door. Wells OF good
wafer and cisterns supply water for
all household purposes in this region,
while stock ponds lreckle the pral.
ries everywhere. In fact, these
broad undulating prairies are beau.
tiful sights, rolling from you like
the waves of old ocean, gently land
ing you in rich and fertile valleys,
such MS the artist delights to copy,
and the sturdy farmer to cultivate.